just for the love of Him

Men invent means and methods 

of coming at God's love, 

they learn rules and set up devices 

to remind them of that love, 

and it seems like a world of trouble 

to bring oneself into 

the consciousness of God's presence. 

Yet it might be so simple. 

Is it not quicker and easier 

just to do our common business 

wholly for the love of him? 

Brother Lawrence

 

in the stillness with Sandy

abiding with Cheryl

 

Photosynthesis

I woke this morning with the word photosynthesis on my lips.  "How odd" I chuckled as I shared this with Rick.  I hadn't been thinking or dreaming of plants so it seemed strange indeed.

I sensed perhaps God was trying to tell me something and a Google search lead me to wikipedia where I read the following:

Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy, normally from the sun, into chemical energy that can be used to fuel the organisms' activities

Normally from the sun?  What about the Son?

Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life. John 8:12 Amplified

He Who Is light gives me the energy to do all that He asks of me.  I find great peace, rest and the freedom to be still in that simple and  profound truth.

 

needing to be still with Sandy

abiding with Cheryl

 

In the secret place

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

he is my God, and I trust him.
Psalm 91:1-2 NLT

in the quiet with Sandy

abiding with Cheryl

 

Come back to the quiet

The Spirit works deep within us, so deeply that we cannot always identify its presence. 

The effect of God's spirit is deeper than our thoughts and emotions. 

That is why setting aside a special time and place for prayer is so important. 

Often we do not feel like praying and our minds are distracted. 

The lack of motivation and difficulty focusing

 make us think that our prayer time is useless and wasted time. 

Still, it is very important to remain faithful to these times 

and simply stick with our promise to be with God, 

even if nothing in our minds, hearts, or bodies wants to be there. 

Simple faithfulness in prayer gives the Spirit of God a real chance to work in us, 

to help us be renewed in God's hands and be conformed to God's will. 

During these sacred times and places, we can be touched in deep, hidden, and tender places. 

We can become more fully aware of the divine presence 

and more open to God's guidance as we are led to new places of love.

Henri Nouwen

As I retreated to the silence yesterday at day's dawning, the Lord shared a similar word:

Why keep trying to walk on your own when I promise to lead you?

Come back to our quiet time with open ears, open eyes, open heart, 

for there is much I can show you.

I will direct you.  I will correct you.  

I will guide you in the way you should go.

Often what seems to be a circle is My most effective path.

Now may be just the time to abandon your human reason, 

throw it into the fire of faith.

 

still with Sandy

abiding with Cheryl

 

Ending. Beginning.

What we call the beginning is often the end. 

And to make an end is to make a beginning. 

The end is where we start from. 

T. S. Eliot

I am closing a door.

I am opening a door.

The pattern of change continues.

Day follows day.

God leads, waits.

My part is to follow.

waiting in the quiet place with Sandy

and abiding with Cheryl

 

lines no eye can see

The pattern

leads side to side

back and forth

where halls stretch long

alike in their design

nothing to direct the eye

or spirit upward

where peace dwells

 

yet my heart has learned to follow

lines no eye can see

winding to the secret place

where home abides for me

seeking the stillness with Sandy

abiding with Cheryl

Nearer than we think

He does not ask much of us, 

merely a thought of Him from time to time, 

a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, 

sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, 

at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present,

He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles 

to take solace in Him as often as you can.

 Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; 

the least little remembrance 

will always be the most pleasing to Him. 

One need not cry out very loudly; 

He is nearer to us than we think. 

Brother Lawrence The Practice of the Presence of God

linking with Sandy as I pray for her rapid healing and recovery

abiding with Cheryl

 

Even the sun

Even the sun itself will bow

for no power on earth, or hell below

will stand in the presence of The Christ.

Victorious on the those sticks of wood

His blood was shed

and yet remains

ever a reminder of His great love.

But don't look for Him there.

The cross is empty, the tomb vacant.

All He claimed to be, proven.

Risen. Alive. Glorified.

When troubles come

and come they will

look to the empty cross.

You can hear me recite this poem below:

in the stillness with Sandy

in the secret place with Cheryl

 

and singing in the Sunday choir with Deidra

 

Matching rhythm

We all have a rhythm we’re used to—

a tempo that goes beyond the kind of music we listen to. 

God gave each of us an internal rhythm. 

Put your hand over your heart, 

a hand over your wrist 

or two fingers on the side of your neck, 

and you’ll discover you have your own internal click—

a personal metronome 

that God thoughtfully put inside each of us.

Amena Brown

Breaking Old Rhythms: Answering the Call of a Creative God

looking for that still point

where my rhythm 

aligns with His heartbeat

in the quiet with Sandy

resting in Him with Cheryl

 

Setting the rhythm

As I opened my journal Friday morning the Lord shared His heart:

Let your words
be the song I sing
Allow Me to set the rhythm
and the melody will carry you
back into My presence
back into that resting place
where all creation begins

Do not step out ahead of Me
Do not lag far behind
Allow Me to set the rhythm
and keep to the beat

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:25 NIV

seeking stillness with Sandy

living in Him with Cheryl

 

Step out of the traffic

Step out of the traffic! 

Take a long, loving look at me, 

your High God, 

above politics, above everything.

Psalm 46:10 The Message

Let be and be still, 

and know 

(recognize and understand) 

that I am God. 

I will be exalted among the nations! 

I will be exalted in the earth! 

Psalm 46:10 Amplified

Hearing His call to draw away 

from the noise, the rush

anything I try to hold too tightly

breathing in, out

releasing to the knowing

 

in the quiet with Sandy

in the secret place with Cheryl

 

Place of rest

Word from Thursday morning:

You dreamed of moving 

into a new home with bigger beds

and surely I tell you 

that I will bring you into a place of rest

not rest that will numb you 

and lull you into inactivity

but rest that will restore and rebuild, 

body, mind and spirit

rest that will equip you

to accomplish all I set before you

 

at the point of stillness with Sandy

and in the abiding place with Cheryl

 

Surrounded

You hold my every moment

You calm my raging seas

You walk with me through fire

and heal all my disease

I trust in You

I trust in You

I believe You're my healer

I believe You are all I need

I believe You're my portion

I believe You're more than enough for me

Jesus, You're all I need

I was able to bring music with me for my treatment Thursday.  

This song and more surrounded me in the gamma knife radiation machine 

as I sought a still place in His presence.

Trying to be still with Sandy

abiding with Cheryl